Sheffield council set to continue city’s refugee programme

Plans are under way to extend Sheffield’s refugee programme for another four years.

The government’s Gateway Protection Programme has welcomed refugees in Sheffield since 2011, with hundreds re-settled in the city during the programme.

The current programme is set to end in March 2017.

Now Sheffield Council is planning to extend it for another four years, which would mean more refugees being rehomed in Sheffield until March 2020.

A spokesman said: “Sheffield Council is the lead agency in a partnership with Hull City Council and British Refugee Council which has delivered the Gateway Protection Programme in Sheffield and Hull since 2011.

“The current programme ends in March 2017 and following a competitive tendering process the Home Office has offered the partnership a new four-year contract, from April 2016 to March 2020.

“The report seeks approval for the council to enter into a new agreement with the Home Office to manage and deliver the Gateway Protection Programme over the course of the next four years.”